New Unprotected Computer - AOL User

skawa · Dec 22, 2006

Hello, The dear husband infected and then, when trying a fix, disabled my old computer so we set up a new one that does not have any security on it yet. After two days of use I am getting very nervous. We use AOL and I was wondering how good their free security or should I get something else. I have a Dell with Windows XP.
Thanks for any advice.

DavidGP · Dec 22, 2006

Hi

This guide should help you How to Protect yourself from malware!

Basics I would go for are

1. Antivirus and be either AVG or AVAST both free but only use one.
2. Firewall, Zonealarm Free or Commodo are good choices, but again only choose one.
3. Spywareblaster.. adds known bad activex and spyware sites to the browsers blocked list, this is only prevention tool.
4. Windows Defender for live malware scanning
5. AVG Antispyware as a backup malware scanner

and keep Windows Upto date always.

skawa · Dec 22, 2006

Thank you. I have read those suggestions but see nothing about the AOL antivirus, antispyware and firewall offered with their services. I think they may be using McAfee? Will your suggested programs work well with AOL? I have heard that some things are not compatable with AOL. Any help is appreciated.

chaslang · Dec 23, 2006

We have not heard of any one having problems using any of the suggested programs with AOL. It is upto you which way you want to go; however, you know those advertisements where AOL tries to make everyone think they just press a button and all your security issues are resolved? Well don't believe them. They are so blatantly a crock that it is not funny. If it were so easy, forums like this would be non-existent. Also you may come to realize after installing AOL's regulare browers software along with all their security software that your PC has slowed to a crawl.

skawa · Dec 23, 2006

chaslang said:

you know those advertisements where AOL tries to make everyone think they just press a button and all your security issues are resolved? Well don't believe them. They are so blatantly a crock that it is not funny. If it were so easy, forums like this would be non-existent. Also you may come to realize after installing AOL's regulare browers software along with all their security software that your PC has slowed to a crawl.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this information. I suspected that the AOL security was not the best way to go and this new computer is trucking along at a much better pace than the old one, even though we did not use the AOL security on it either. I had purchased PC-Cillin for that computer. Before I try to see if it is transferable to this computer.... could you give me an idea if it is as good as the programs you have suggested or should I just forget about it? Thanks again.

chaslang · Dec 23, 2006

PC-Cillin is a good program; however if this is one of those security suite packages that contains all kinds of things like antivirus, antispyware, spam blocker, firewall, etc. Then it is not something we recommend. They are all massive resource hogs. However if you already have PC Cillin (the same exact version) installed on another PC and you are happy with how your PC is performing, then stick with it.

skawa · Dec 23, 2006

Thanks you for your help Chaslang and Halo. I will recheck the PC-Cillin package and decide if I want to try to transfer it. I do not mind paying for good security but if the free ones you have suggested are as good or better... hey! why throw away good money? I may be back to have you help with the old computer that MDH messed up. Happy Holidays!

chaslang · Dec 23, 2006

Happy Holidays to you too! Surf safely!

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New Unprotected Computer - AOL User

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